Crusade's Dam Covered By Galileo Scott Bros' very exciting speed sire prospect, Crusade [pictured below left], the black son of Mr Greeley and winner of the exclusive British Gr1 Middle Park Stakes, has seen his first foals on the ground this season at studs across KZN. Recent news in is that his dam, La Traviata by Johannesburg [pictured right with Crusade as a foal], has been covered by Galileo this season. She has visited the Champion son of Sadlers Wells previously, producing a yearling filly in 2013. La Traviata also a has a 2011 filly by Henrythenavigator, a full-sister to multiple Group-placed Cristoforo Columbo as well as a full-brother born in 2012. Cristoforo Columbo is currently competing in the Dubai Racing Carnival, representing Norway under trainer Rune Haugen. The breeder of La Traviata, John Antonellis sold her for $112,000 at the 2005 Fasig-Tipton Keeneland summer yearling sale. She was later resold for $1.1 million at the Fasig-Tipton Florida February sale of 2-year-olds in training to Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith, her racing owners. "She's a drop-dead gorgeous animal," said John Antonelli. "When she was born and was out in the paddock, she had an attitude. She stood there in the pasture and said, 'This is all mine.' She had something going for her. She was a big strong filly and was correct." The blood-horse.com says of La Traviata as a racehorse: "If speed is the essence of a good racehorse, then there is little question that La Traviata is a good one. "Undefeated in her three lifetime starts, the filly has demolished her hapless opponents by a combined 27 1/2 lengths – and this after stumbling at the start of her last race, the Victory Ride Stakes (Gr3). "One wonders what she might do with a completely clean trip. La Traviata comes by speed honestly with one major source courtesy of her sire, Johannesburg. "The best juvenile in both Europe and the United States in 2001, Johannesburg possessed an excellent turn of foot that was used to good advantage in winning four Group - or Grade 1 races, including the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile." Crusade had six starts in England, winning twice including the Gr1 and placing once in a Group3. Crusade also competed in the Breeders Cup Juvenile, but was badly interfered with and finished fifth subsequently. Crusade's win in the Gr1 Middle Park Stakes saw him defeating a strong field of horses that included four Group 2 winners, including Capar Netscher who is a three-time Gr 2 winner. Crusade has let down into an imposing stallion over the course of the year. A fertile stallion who who has his first foals on the ground, all stamped beautifully in their sires's image, Crusade has once again seen tremendous support from the breeders for 2014 with a quality book of mares. Crusade has been Equinome tested and his speed gene is a C:C, responsible for producing sprinters. Crusade stood for a service fee of R20 000 excl vat for 2014. Foal Image: Keith Russon with Backworth-bred Crusade foal out of National Seeker. Image: Ian Todd